Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
Reinforcing Pakistan-Russia Relations
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked President Putin for the invitation to visit Russia, stating he would be “very happy” to make the trip. He highlighted Islamabad’s desire to take relations with Moscow to new heights.
“Because of your personal interest, we are going in the right direction,” the Prime Minister told the Russian leader, emphasizing that both Pakistan and Russia are determined to elevate their bilateral relations.
Expanding Cooperation in Key Sectors
Prime Minister Shehbaz noted that trade between the two countries has grown over the past year and stressed that they are working to expand cooperation in agriculture, energy, transport, and other sectors. He underlined that Pakistan and Russia are committed to building a future-oriented partnership.
The Prime Minister also stated that Russia could play a crucial role in the region’s development and expressed Pakistan’s desire to deepen cooperation in trade and other key areas. He added that Pakistan has made serious and sincere efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
“Our oil imports from Russia have boosted trade, and the protocols we have signed will enhance collaboration in areas such as agriculture, steel, energy, and transport. Together, these steps reflect our firm commitment to building a strong partnership without any doubt,” said Shehbaz.
Enhancing Bilateral Ties
Shehbaz said Pakistan seeks to establish relations that are complementary and contribute to a more developed, prosperous, and stable region. For his part, President Putin expressed solidarity with Pakistan over the recent floods, acknowledging the natural disaster the country is facing. He reiterated Russia’s commitment to enhancing its “excellent” bilateral relations with Pakistan.
High-Level Delegation Accompanies PM
Shehbaz was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Information Minister Atta Tarar. Prime Minister Shehbaz also recalled his previous meeting with President Putin in Astana, which led to several high-level visits and reflects the growing trust and understanding between Islamabad and Moscow.
PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping Meet: Deepening China-Pakistan All-Weather Partnership
Earlier in the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” between China and Pakistan.
Xi on Upgraded Cooperation & Regional Stability
President Xi emphasized that as the world undergoes “changes unseen in a century,” a stronger China-Pakistan relationship is vital for safeguarding regional peace, stability, and development. He called for accelerating the building of an “even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era” and encouraged both sides to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Xi also expressed hope that Pakistan would take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in the country.
Shehbaz: Pakistan Is Proud of China’s Achievements
In his remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated President Xi on the successful hosting of the SCO Summit and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Anti-Fascist War. “Thanks to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made great strides. Pakistan is proud of China’s achievements and remains ready to work together in this great journey,” the Prime Minister said. He praised Xi’s “Global Governance Initiative” as “of great significance for world peace, stability, and development,” pledging Pakistan’s full support for its implementation.
CPEC & New Development Corridors
Mr. Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to continue working with China to launch the next upgraded phase of CPEC, which he described as a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Prime Minister revealed that five new development corridors have been added to CPEC’s next phase, aimed at strengthening connectivity and building a stronger Pakistan-China community with a shared future. He also appreciated China’s unwavering support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and economic development, pledging that Pakistan would “spare no effort in ensuring the safety of all Chinese personnel and projects.”
Both leaders stressed that their partnership extends beyond bilateral ties, serving as a model of cooperation for the wider region. They also vowed to strengthen coordination on regional peace efforts, counter-terrorism, and global development initiatives.
